Chris Blakeslee has experience at Athleta and Alo Yoga. Kendra Scott will remain on board as executive chair and chief visionary officer.
New Trade Show Cancelled Due to Hurricane
The Diplomat Show was scheduled for Sept. 4-6 in Hollywood, Florida.

Hollywood, Fla.—Continental Buying Group confirmed to National Jeweler that a new jewelry trade show, The Diplomat Show, has been cancelled due to the threats posed by Hurricane Dorian.
Scheduled for Sept. 4-6 at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, the show was a joint venture between Continental Buying Group and Preferred Jewelers International, intended to give buyers a chance to restock before the holidays.
The three-day show was scheduled to host speakers from companies and organizations including the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Gemological Science International, card processing company Solupay and Bottomline Marketing.
In an e-mail, Joe Murphy, who is chief operating officer of both CBG and Preferred Jewelers International confirmed the show’s cancellation.
“Because of Hurricane Dorian and our concern for all participants involved, The Diplomat Show was cancelled and will not be rescheduled,” he wrote.
Hurricane Dorian is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, according to The New York Times.
After devastating the Bahamas, with at least five people dead at the time of reporting, the storm moved to the Florida coast early Wednesday, downgrading in intensity but widening in area.
This isn’t the first time hurricane season has disrupted a Florida jewelry trade show.
The 2017 edition of Centurion South Beach show was cancelled after its venue was damaged during Hurricane Irma. The JIS Miami Show also had to relocate due to Irma, from the Miami Beach Convention Center to the Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center.
A note on The Diplomat Show’s website read as of press time: “So much love went into the production of this show. We are all saddened that we could not move forward with all of our plans. Thank you to everyone who helped and contributed. Until we meet again … ”.
Confirmed suppliers at The Diplomat Show, per its website, included Dvani by A&D Gem Corp., Martin Flyer, Mercury Ring, Midas Chain and Takat Jewels.
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